A Lego Brickumentary Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of "A LEGO Brickumentary" impresses with its solid high-definition quality, delivering lifelike detail and vivid colors. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encoded video showcases the intrinsic details of LEGO constructions, allowing viewers to appreciate every line, joint, peg, and hole in the intricate brick-based designs. Colors are exceptionally bold, most notably with primary tones such as eye-catching reds, deep blues, and golden yellows, presenting a visual brilliance that high definition adeptly captures. The diverse lighting conditions across different scenes maintain a consistent display, ensuring that from hotel ballrooms to New York evenings, the image quality remains captivating.

However, while resolution is generally rewarding, certain aspects fall within expected ranges for upper-midrange digital images. Basic skin and clothing textures exhibit adequate detailing without being overly striking. Minor technical imperfections such as mild banding, noise, and aliasing appear but are insignificant and do not detract from the overall viewing experience. Blacks are rendered well, though not reaching inky depths. Some archival footage and internet-sourced segments display noticeable grain and blur when upscaled but are limited to brief moments that serve the narrative.

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, the video fills widescreen TVs almost perfectly, providing a rich and satisfying visual experience. The consistency in image quality keeps viewers engaged through both dynamic and static shots. Despite instances of varying quality due to source material diversity, "A LEGO Brickumentary" on Blu-ray offers a robust and visually appealing 1080p transfer, ideally suited for a visually-centric documentary of this nature.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack for "A LEGO Brickumentary" provides a solid, though modest, auditory experience. Dialogues, whether from narration or interviews, are rendered with crystal clarity and a strong center channel presence, ensuring that viewers can easily follow the spoken content without the need for subtitles. The score and ambient effects do bleed lightly into the rear channels, but the overall mix remains largely front-oriented. Given the documentary style of the film, there is little call for dynamic surround sound activity, and, to this end, the presentation fulfills the documentary’s requirements adequately.

While this isn’t an aggressive surround mix, the soundtrack is effectively balanced. Musical segments are notably crisp with light dynamics, enhancing the overall atmosphere without overwhelming the primary audio content. Environmental noises in busier scenes are kept to a minimal and do not interfere with dialogue clarity. Notable exceptions include specific chapters featuring sound effects such as gunfire or a space shuttle blast-off, which bring some welcomed surround detail and bass activity. In sum, while "A LEGO Brickumentary" won't push the capabilities of high-end audio setups, it offers a clear and engaging auditory experience that's suitably matched to its content.

The Blu-ray extras for "A Lego Brickumentary" provide an intriguing glimpse into specialized LEGO communities and related content. Despite the limited quantity, the included deleted scenes shed light on niches ranging from large set builds and animated short films to competitive robotic toys. Each segment comes in high definition (1080p), providing a high-quality viewing experience. Additionally, the promo for LEGOLAND Resorts and Discovery Centers, while effectively an extended commercial, adds to the overall variety of the bonus content.

Extras included in this disc:

• Bro-LUG: Focuses on an online community specializing in large set builds with unconventional themes such as cyberpunk.
• Little Guys and Brick Films: Expands on original characters created for animated short films by users spotlighted in the main feature.
• X-Treme Team: Follows a group of children involved in competitive robotic design and programming using the Mindstorm Lego line.
• Legoland Resorts and Discovery Centers Promo: An extended commercial for LEGOLAND Resorts and Discovery Centers.

"A Lego Brickumentary" is an engaging and comprehensive exploration of the LEGO universe, tracing the evolution of the iconic brick from a niche child's toy to a cultural phenomenon impacting various facets of society. Narrated by an animated Jason Bateman in Minifigure form, the documentary delves into the rich history of the Danish Christiansen family that founded LEGO and explores the company's innovations, such as its precise design and clutch power technology. The film examines LEGO's transformation into a billion-dollar brand with a diverse product line, including themed sets like LEGO City, Chima, Ninjago, and licensed collections from franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel. It also highlights LEGO's expansion into entertainment sectors like movies, video games, and the emerging toys-to-life market.

Despite its broad scope, "A Lego Brickumentary" sometimes feels like a missed opportunity for deeper analysis. The documentary primarily focuses on LEGO enthusiasts and their creations, showcasing inspiring anecdotes from builders, fans, and professionals involved in conventions, competitions, art therapy, and more. Key events, like the construction and unveiling of a full-scale LEGO X-Wing Fighter in Times Square, are juxtaposed with interviews that explore LEGO's impact on areas such as city planning, space engineering, and social therapy for autistic children. However, the film often glosses over intricate details of manufacturing processes, brand evolution, marketing strategies, and its significant influence in the video game industry.

While "A Lego Brickumentary" may sometimes skim the surface, it succeeds as an enjoyable and occasionally exhilarating celebration of the LEGO community. The documentary offers viewers a glimpse into the diverse ways people interact with LEGO, creating anything from Guinness World Record towers to stunning recreations of classic art. It effectively demonstrates the broad appeal of LEGO beyond simple children's playthings, highlighting its function as a form of self-expression and creativity. Overall, despite some areas lacking depth, the film provides an accessible and visually captivating overview of LEGO's expansive world.

"A LEGO Brickumentary" attempts to encapsulate the essence of LEGO's universe with a broad, albeit superficial, approach. The documentary showcases a myriad of fascinating aspects related to LEGO, ranging from creativity to the collector’s culture, but it suffers from a lack of depth. The content jumps between topics, capturing snippets rather than providing a thorough exploration. While the film remains charming and packed with intriguing anecdotes for die-hard LEGO enthusiasts, it falls short of delivering a comprehensive narrative that might satisfy the casual viewer.

Anchor Bay's Blu-ray presentation of "A LEGO Brickumentary" is visually and aurally satisfying, offering good video and audio quality. However, the supplemental content is minimal—limited to three deleted scenes and a LEGOLAND advertisement. This sparse addition to the main feature somewhat diminishes the overall value of the release. Although it won't necessarily disappoint, this documentary leaves the audience yearning for more in-depth coverage of LEGO's vast and vibrant world.

In conclusion, "A LEGO Brickumentary" is an engaging yet limited foray into the LEGO phenomenon. While it excels in providing a snapshot of the creativity and passion within the LEGO community, it lacks the depth required to delve deeply into any single aspect. For hardcore LEGO aficionados, this documentary is a delightful treat. However, casual viewers may find it more suitable as a rental rather than a purchase.